Joy In Christ

"Christ came to bring joy; joy to children, joy to parents, joy to families and friends, joy to the sick and elderly, joy to all humanity. In a true sense Joy is the keynote message of Christianity, and the recurring motif of the Gospels. Go therefore and become messengers of joy." -Pope John Paul II

Praying

November 09, 2010

Celebrating ~ St. Martin de Porres

Since we plan to make our traditional treats, I wanted to share this archived post from last year's celebration:

Feast Day: St. Martin de Porres, November 3

Patron Saint of my husband and eldest son.

St. Martin was born in Lima, Peru in 1579. He was the illegitimite son of a Spanish nobleman and black woman. Juan, his father, had a disdain for Martin's dark skin color. He abandoned his family, leaving Martin with the stigma of coming from a home with no father, mixed blood, and very poor. He apprenticed as a barber-surgeon.

At the age of 15, he began working as a lay helper in the Dominican monastery's infirmary helping sick people. His superiors dropped the stipulations that "no black person may be received to the holy habit or profession of our order" and Martin took vows as a Dominican brother. He had a great devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. Martin was humble and charitable, helping everyone in need.

To you Saint Martin de Porres we prayerfully lift up our hearts filled with serene confidence and devotion. Mindful of your unbounded and helpful charity to all levels of society and also of your meekness and humility of heart, we offer our petitions to you. Pour out upon our families the precious gifts of your solicitous and generous intercession; show to the people of every race and every color the paths of unity and of justice; implore from our Father in heaven the coming of his kingdom, so that through mutual benevolence in God men may increase the fruits of grace and merit the rewards of eternal life.